How is wind work holding up under inspections?

By Anne Adams • Staff Writer

MONTEREY — Since Highland New Wind Development received a land-disturbing permit two weeks ago, it has started basic grading and road work on its utility project plans.

Highland building official Jim Whitelaw, along with Mark Chambers and Jim Echols of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, have conducted several inspections and filed reports on their findings.

Professional geologist Dr. Pamela Dodds, who has been a consultant for landowners concerned about erosion and sediment damaging the Laurel Fork watershed at the project site, finds the inspection results so far "disturbing."

The inspection reports through Monday morning this week are as follows:

• Aug. 7 — Preconstruction meeting with Mac and Tal McBride, ALL Construction, Spruce Hill Excavating, and Kyle Moyers is held.

• Aug. 14 — Whitelaw noted, "Lucile Miller complained to DCR that (resident) Pen Goodall was being bothered by blasting on the HNWD site. On a site visit from 8:30-10:30 a.m., I could not find any blasting or excavation. Henry McBride and five loggers working on the property said that there was no blasting or excavation being done."

• Aug. 17 — 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Whitelaw noted, "Excavation has begun with the installation of sediment traps, the substation pad, and diversion ditches. DCR (Mark Chambers and Jim Echols) liked the installation so far but recommended improvements in the future, especially culvert inlet and outlet protection."

• Aug. 18, E&S Site Report — Whitelaw checked "No problems found on site." His notes say, "Excavation has begun with the installation of sediment traps, diversion ditches, silt fence and grading of the substation pad. DCR (Mark Chambers and Jim Echols) were on site for a SWPP inspection. No problems were found."

• Aug. 19, E&S Site Report — Whitelaw checked "E/S Controls are installed but are … "installed incorrectly." Whitelaw noted, "Site inspection with Mark Chambers, Kyle Moyers, the excavator and Henry McBride. Excavator got the sediment trap outlets wrong because of misinterpretation of 'length' specification. He will adjust these per Mr. Chambers' recommendation. Also, diversion dike above substation must be lengthened westward to keep runoff from soil stockpile. Mr. Chambers remained on site for SWPPP inspection."

• Aug. 19 Stormwater Programs Site Inspection Report from DCR, by Mark Chambers — Four state regulations checked for rough grading, recommendations made, including:

1. "As discussed in the field, the clean water diversion above the substation work area needs to be extended to the west a distance sufficient to ensure up slope runoff does not discharge over the disturbed area."

"As discussed in the field, please add EC- matting and outlet protection to the clean water diversion above the substation."

"As discussed in the field, the diversion adjacent to the west side of the substation sediment trap needs to be extended to the west and along the existing road a distance sufficient to ensure all runoff from the disturbed area is directed into the sediment trap."

"As discussed in the field, please re-install the sediment trap weirs (substation sediment trap and sediment trap below Red Oak entrance) to the dimensions on the approved E&S plan."

Recommended corrective action deadline: Noon, Aug. 24; reinspection date: Noon, Aug. 24.

• Aug. 22 — E&S Inspection Report; Whitelaw checked "no problems were found on site." He noted, "I drove to site during a rainy day to see what was happening. No erosion was visible. Sediment trap weirs were improved, matting is added to diversion dike and dike has been extended to the west (substation)."

• Aug. 25 — E&S Inspection Report; Whitelaw checked "no problems were found on site." He noted, "One-inch rain in Monterey Aug. 24 at 5 p.m.; only .38 inches at site. Bank below substation eroded a little into ditch leading to the sediment pond. No other erosion visible. Mark Chambers was on site on Aug. 24. He recommended they move the topsoil stockpile from the site shown on E&S plan to a more flat area on top of ridge. They were installing silt fence in preparation for that move. Blackwell Engineering was on site to determine the type of controls needed to remove the bank adjacent to Route 250 for the VDOT line-of-sight requirement for the commercial entry. They noted that the existing culvert under the existing entry is almost stopped up with VDOT's crusher run that has washed down from the Route 250 shoulder and ditch. The owner will either clean out the culvert or install a new one. There is no way to stop the crusher run from washing down (and I don't believe it's the owner's responsibility). He will attempt his own runoff to the sediment pond below."

Dodds remains concerned. "The inspection notes are disturbing because at almost every E&S control installation, Mark Chambers has had to direct the contractor to correct problems with the installation: location, length, compliance with the E&S plan," she said Wednesday. "If Mark is not available to baby-sit the activities every day, the lack of attention by the contractor to proper installation would result in numerous problems. Also, the Aug. 25 report is disturbing regarding the crusher run that has filled the culvert beneath the existing entry. The wording is vague regarding who will be responsible for insuring that the culvert will be cleaned or re-installed. This type of confusion typically leads to no action, and the problem simply grows into a bigger problem."

Whitelaw said Monday he feels the E&S plan is adequate and inspections will help find and correct any problems that arise.